Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-05-13
USES FOR THE NOVEL.
DEMAND IN ENGLAND FOR FICTION
OF A RELIGIOUS CHARACTER.

How UNCONVENTIONAL Works Are Some
times Sugar Coated"-Georee EIiots
SkilI-Dickens - Mrs. Stowe - Natural
Science in Fiction for the Young.
That the novel has been employed as "a
means of grace is evident from the large
number of Juvenile religious romances to be
found in Sunday school libraries. Most of the
adults in this country contracted their love
of fiction from the pious novels they obtained
from Sunday school libraries and read while
they We're children A writer in Glasgow
paper, in reviewing the publications issued in
Great Britain during last year, and the book
trade during the same period, observes that
the books for which there was the greatest de-
mand were novels in which religious matters
were discussed. They were strictly religious
sometimes UNCONVENTIONAL works, sugar
coated" TO suit the popular taste. The authors
wished to discuss theological subjects, but
thinking they would not secure many readers
for books that seemed by their titles only fit
for the libraries of clergymen, wrote novels
in which the characters are made to discuss
matters pertaining to various religious beliefs
and their influence on life and character By
adopting this course they obtained numerous
readers and made their literary ventures
financially successful
George Eliot did this in very skillful man
ner-so skillful indeed that her purpose is not
detected by the average reader of her works
Dickens is credited with reforming the chan
Gerry court practice and workhouse system in
Eng land by his novels, and the works of Mrs
81
abolition of slavery in this country than all
the sermons ever delivered from pulpits and
all the speeches ever made in congress.
DRY AND UNINTEREsTING.
Recently an American gentleman has writ
ten novel in which civil service reform and
free trade are treated of, at least as side
issues, Many people never read works on po-
lltr1l economy. finance, transportation and
the s,I,uce If government, because they con
slider them dry and undressing. They would
probably trA treatjses ON these subjects some
What above their comprehension, as they are
likely to he written hy persons who have de
voted years to one brunch of study and who
rrcpare books for those who have given great
attention To it. One needs considerable
knowledge of tbs subject in order TO read one
OF these books with profit. The author of the
work presume that The reader is tolerably
well acquainted with the subject that Is
treated of Ii Is, IN short, work for ud-
vanccd students, and one viii derive very
little benefit from 1t till he has gained some
elementary knowledge of the subject of
which it treats
That many young persons have become
greatly interested in natural science from
reading Capt. Marryatt's novels and that re,
markable book The Swiss Family Robinson
is certain. They tound that there was vastly
more in the great book of nature that had
long been open before their eyes than they
ever had an idea of A work of fiction was
the means of introducing them to the great
truths of S,llce. The noVelistS who will in
terrst The people of this country in the study
Of bipartisan politics win do a good work
We want a novel that shall do for our pro
tective tariff system what Uncle Toms
CABIN DID for the institution OF slavery -
{ niCago Times.